"Alma's Enemies: The Case of the Lamanites, Amlicites, and Mysterious Amalekites" from the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, 2005, resolves several questions about the narrative in the Book of Alma by showing that the mysterious Amalekites, enemies of the Nephites, were actually the Amlicites that are introduced with much fanfare at the beginning of Alma's record and then mysteriously vanish in the text. There are several reasons for concluding that the two groups are the same, and that the reason we have two different names is due to confusion by the scribe and printer in dealing with the names dictated by Joseph. And yes, it's a mistake that slipped by Joseph Smith himself.

Resolving the error and recognizing the two groups as one greatly strengthens the text and brings unity to the Book of Alma while resolving other issues as well. It's one more example of the text of the Book of Mormon, the ancient text, being "smarter" than Joseph Smith. There is more depth, more unity, and even more poetry to it than Joseph could have realized, let alone created.
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